2000 Château d'Issan, 3-bottle Lot

Château d’Issan is a 123-acre estate in Cantenac, Bordeaux. Seventy-four of the estate’s acres are in the Margaux appellation. It is a third growth estate according to the 1855 Bordeaux classification. D’Issan traces its history to the 12th century, but it was in the 17th century that an important Bordeaux politician named Essenault acquired the property and gave it his name. The estate name was later shortened to d’Issan. Since 1945 d’Issan has been owned by the well-known Cruse family of Bordeaux, which also owns Château Pontet-Canet, Château Laujac, Château Haut-Bages-Liberal and other Bordeaux estates as well as a negociant business. The vineyards are planted to 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot. About 110,000 bottles of Château d’Issan are produced annually. The second wine is Blason d’Issan.

Margaux is one of Bordeaux’s most famous appellations and also one of its largest, with about 3,400 acres of vineyards. Located on the Left Bank of the Gironde River, Margaux has the greatest number of classified-growth châteaux (or crus classé) according to the 1855 classification. There are twenty-one crus classé, including the most famous estate, the first growth Château Margaux. The Margaux appellation includes vineyards around the village of Margaux and the villages of Arsac, Cantenac, d’Issan, Labarde and Soussans. Wines from the best Margaux châteaux and vintages are prized for their perfumey fragrance and elegant, silky mouthfeel. Margaux wines are predominately Cabernet Sauvignon blended with Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc.